Ever since the Safe Campus Act was introduced to Congress in July, there has been debate. The bill would prohibit colleges from acting on reports of rape until a student makes a report to police. While most sororities in the National Panhellenic Conference seem to support the bill, Alpha Phi became the first to question it in an official statement on Thursday.
While Alpha Phi does not outright reject the bill, they believe that sisters “should have choices in how, when and to whom they go to for support or to report the crime. They should have their own voice and the support and encouragement they need to move forward including reporting as they choose to.”
Linda Kahangi, Alpha Phi’s executive director, told The Huffington Post, “Many of our members — both collegians and alumnae — had expressed concern that NPC’s endorsement of these two bills implied that Alpha Phi had endorsed them. We wanted to clarify to them that we had not.”
Read the full statement from Alpha Phi headquarters below.
“Dear Sisters,
We are writing at the request of many of our members and chapters to clarify Alpha Phi’s position on the 2015 Safe Campus and Fair Campus Acts which have been endorsed by the National Panhellenic Conference. Alpha Phi has not endorsed this legislation and has not committed to any financial support.
We believe in our principle of Watchcare that provides for unconditional support of our sisters at all times, including those who are survivors of sexual assault. We accept any social consequences that may be implied by others as we stand beside our sisters and support them if they choose to report the crime.
We believe our sisters who are survivors should have choices in how, when and to whom they go to for support or to report the crime. They should have their own voice and the support and encouragement they need to move forward including reporting as they choose to.
We believe universities should remain accountable for the safety of their campuses, and should continue to raise the bar to ensure that they report and respond to crimes and keep students safe. Their ability to do so should not be diminished.
We believe that each of our chapters and our members should have their own voice and should work with their communities to fight sexual assault. Alpha Phi members are strong women and leaders who can and will make a difference.
We believe in our members. We believe in Alpha Phi.
Loyally,
The Alpha Phi International Executive Board and Executive Office Staff”
Sisters of other sororities in the NPC (an umbrella organization of nine Greek fraternities and sororities) are now writing to their national headquarters to follow Alpha Phi’s lead. The bill is also opposed by rape victims’ advocacy groups.
Right now, colleges are obligated under federal gender equity law Title IX to respond to reports of sexual harassment and assault on campus. They are able to punish a student they believe to have committed sexual assault as a violation of the school’s code of conduct, regardless of whether police are investigating.
With 1 in 5 women reportedly being sexually assaulted on college campuses, we have to figure out the best way to investigate these crimes…soon.
Read the bill here and figure out where you stand on this matter.
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